Cape Town

Settled almost 400 years ago, Cape Town is a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain. Because of its rich history, the city has much to offer visitors, from world-class 5-star dining and accommodation to Auwal Mosque, the first and oldest mosque built in South Africa back in 1796.

Whether you’re visiting to spend time basking in the sun on one of the many gorgeous beaches, wandering around exploring the exquisitely restored V&A Waterfront, or visiting Robben Island Museum (the former prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years), you’re sure to find something that make this a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.

 A little background info about Cape Town from a South African: I come Durban, South Africa’s third largest city, and I say without bias that Cape Town is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to.

 And not just because of its natural beauty, but also the richness of the culture, the visible mix of European and African heritage and influence, and so much more.

But let’s discuss Cape Town’s natural beauty for a minute. It’s a port city on the southern tip of African continent. Because of its strategic location, Cape Town was settled as a restocking station in the 1600s for ships making the voyage from then Holland and other European countries to India for trade. Today, Cape Town’s city center is a bustling metropolis where old and new exist side by side. The center of the city is overshadowed by the towering Table Mountain, a flat top mountain that is usually shrouded in mist and clouds in the afternoon.

Table Mountain should be a must-see attraction on your list if you visit. If you’re feeling physically up for it, you can hike the side of the mountain. It’s a scenic, mid-level hike that should take about 3 hours to reach the top. But if you’re strapped for time (or just don’t feel like climbing a mountain), you’re in luck. There is a cable car that takes visitors to the peak and back down. The view from the top is like nothing else I have ever seen.

Straight ahead you’ll see Robben Island (which used to be a leper colony before it was converted into a prison). Slightly to the right, you’ll see the very southernmost tip of Africa where the two oceans (Atlantic and Indian) meet. And behind you to the right, you’ll see the greenish hue of the Indian Ocean and the Twelve Apostles Mountain Range which forms the back of Table Mountain, where you'll find one of the most scenic stretches of coast in the world.

Some of the neighborhoods I would definitely recommend exploring are the Bo-Kaap, Woodstock, The Gardens, and Hout Bay. Each has its own distinct personality and should give you a perfectly rounded impression of what Cape Town is like.

Starting with the Bo-Kaap: Without a doubt this is my favorite neighborhood in the city. It has an incredibly sad yet inspiring history. Formerly known as the Malay Quarter, this was a racially segregated area during the apartheid era. It’s situated above the city center on the slopes of Signal Hill (which is on the side of Table Mountain). It dates back to the 1760s when several small rental houses were built and leased to slaves, known as Cape Malays.

Bo Kaap might also be one of the most colorful places you ever get to visit, and there’s a wonderfully rich story behind the brightly colored houses. It’s said that while the houses were being leased, they had to be painted white. When this rule was finally lifted, the slaves were allowed to buy their property and they painted their houses bright colors as an expression of their freedom.

Please be respectful when taking photos. Most of these houses are still occupied, these are still people’s homes.

Next, Woodstock: If you’ve been to Brooklyn in New York, you may get a similar vibe while wandering the streets of Woodstock. This eclectic neighborhood is the creative heart of Cape Town with art galleries, studios, restaurants, and breweries. You’ll find some beautiful murals on the sides of buildings, some incredible street art displays. It’s gritty in places and a bit commercial in others but overall, it’s walk about.

The Company’s Garden: This bright green oasis right in the heart of the city center is a popular favorite for many reasons. The meandering pathways take you around the gardens to explore the many types of trees, and if you need a break there are plenty of benches. Local officer workers flock to these gardens for their lunch break, tourists like to stroll through as it provides a respite from the bustle of the city.

According to Cape Town Travel’s website, “Ships sent by the Dutch East India Company would stop by after months at sea and stock up on fresh produce grown in the garden—hence, “The Company’s Garden.”

And finally, Hout Bay. This harbor town, about 20 minutes south of Cape Town, has some of the best restaurants preparing fresh seafood (if you enjoy seafood), and in my opinion, the nicest beach in the area. The sand is blindingly white, the ocean is an incredibly deep blue, and the oranges and greens of the backdrop of mountains makes you feel like you’re in a living post card.

Sure, there are a ton of other great cities and towns in and around Cape Town. I just wanted to highlight the few that immediately spring to mind. But before we end this post, I would like to make one last suggestion. Cape Town is known for many things: creativity, world-class fruits, and award-winning wines. Try make some time to visit one of these wine estates. It’s South Africa’s wine-growing region and wines from here win international wine awards every year.

One estate I’ve visited twice is Groot Constantia. It’s a gorgeous estate with the original Cape-Dutch style of architecture. This isn’t surprising since Groot Constantia is south African’s first wine estate, founded in 1685. Go on the tour, taste the wine, and buy a few bottles. Then head in Jonkershuis, the on-site restaurant that serves up some delicious South African dishes. This isn’t a shameless plug, I just really enjoyed visiting the estate and learning more about the wine process and the history of the estate.

And finally, this isn’t a neighborhood, but more of a Cape classic—the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, often acclaimed as “one of the great botanic gardens of the world”. I’ve only explored the garden once, but would do it again in a heartbeat. The garden hosts the national herbarium and each year the Chelsea Flower Show is held here. Recently, a suspended trail was design and installed to allow visitors to not only walk through the flora but to see it from above as well. The Centenary Tree Canopy Walkway is made from curved steel and timber and winds and dips its way through and over the trees of the Arboretum.

Book that flight, make Cape Town, South Africa your once-in-a-lifetime trip.